The 2026 USATF Niagara Mountain Running Championships brought many of Western New York's top trail and mountain runners to Swain Resort, where athletes tackled a demanding course featuring steep climbs, technical terrain, and fast descents.
Competition was fierce across the Open and Masters divisions, while Bergen Elite and Roadkill Racing emerged as the day's top teams.
Josh Zubler of Bergen Elite captured the men's title, crossing the line in 1:02:31 to secure a commanding victory. Tim Chichester finished second in 1:05:30, while Zubler's Bergen Elite teammate Ej Boyce rounded out the podium in third with a time of 1:09:19.
Top Three – Open Men
Lindsay Piraino led the women's field from start to finish, winning in 1:07:38. Jenny Keenan was second in 1:11:53, and Elizabeth Matthews completed the podium in 1:20:30.
Top Three – Open Women
Age-graded scoring was used to determine the Masters champions, with 61-year-old Mike Nier producing the top performance of the day with an age grade of 50.95. Boyce claimed the runner-up position at 49.73, while Joe Halter finished third with a mark of 45.34.
Top Three – Masters Men (Age-Graded)
Jenny Keenan added another outstanding performance to her day by winning the women's Masters competition with an age grade of 51.29. Julia Varble finished second at 50.08, while Elizabeth Matthews placed third with a mark of 46.99.
Top Three – Masters Women (Age-Graded)
Bergen Elite captured the Open Men's team title behind the strong performances of Zubler, Boyce, Kyle Sobon, Mike Welden, and Richie Merriam. The club posted a combined time of 6:00:08 to outdistance Roadkill Racing.
Roadkill Racing claimed both the Open Women's and Masters Women's championships.
Piraino's victory, along with solid performances from Rachel Arcuri, Inga Simning, Rachael Jones, and Amanda Brouk, powered Roadkill Racing to the Open Women's title in 7:50:17.
In the Masters Women's competition, Julia Varble, Erin Caffrey, Valerie Vermeulen, Jen Campanella, and Ashlie Roberts combined for an age-graded team score of 193.37 points.
Congratulations to all of the athletes who took on one of the most challenging events on the USATF Niagara calendar. Their performances once again showcased the strength and depth of mountain running throughout the association.